5|No One but You

That weekend, I asked Jasper to take me somewhere. Work had consumed my attention for the past few months. So I hadn't had time to visit. Thankfully, all business matters were in full swing. I could relax a bit.

Arriving at my destination, I marveled at the scenery around me. The place was beautiful because of various flowering plants. The cemetery was clean, and no wild plants were around the grass. I approached the cross-shaped tombstone with an angel statue on its side. Catherine Haworth was engraved on the stone.

Mother died fourteen years ago after years of battling breast cancer. My life drastically changed when she passed away because a part of me died with her. I lost the only family that loved me for who I was.

"You shouldn't go there, sir," Jasper said as I stared at another headstone closer to my mother's grave. "That man doesn't deserve your respect."

"He was my brother." I glanced at Mother's tomb for a moment, then walked over to Arnold's grave.

Despite our poor relationship, he was my brother. I regretted his short life. He was a great leader because he learned directly from Father's guidance. The company continued its heyday while in his hands.

Mother would still be alive, and her illness would not have worsened had the accident not happened. Arnold's sudden passing left her deeply grieved. Father had also become more grumpy since his favorite son and the wife he both hated and loved were gone.

"What are you doing here!?" someone near me shouted.

I turned around and saw Jasper standing between me and Farrell. He was blocking the man from approaching me. My nephew's attitude was baffling. I didn't know why he hated me so much. Dorothy's children disliked me but didn't hate me.

I didn't know what I had done to him that he gave me such a snide look and was so rude when we met. We never interacted when Arnold was alive, let alone after he was gone.

"I'm mourning at my brother's grave," I replied casually. "Is there a law against a younger brother doing that?"

"I forbid it! It's my father's grave! I have the right to forbid or allow anyone to mourn here!" he raged. His face was red with anger.

"I don't understand. What wrong have I done to you that you get this angry every time we meet." I frowned.

He scoffed. "Not only are you a dwarf, your brain hasn't grown either," he insulted. "Do you seriously not know what sins you've committed against my family!?"

"I wouldn't ask if I knew." I calmly answered. His tongue was razor-sharp, but I didn't allow him to hurt me with his words.

"Wow! How long will you keep up the charade? Just wait. You'll pay for what you've done to us. You're lucky that Grandpa is still alive. Once he's gone, you'll be the first to pay for your sins against my mom and dad!"

I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Your father has hurt me a lot. Don't get angry for no reason. You'd have answered me if I were guilty, not continuing to mock me."

"Criminals like you have no shame! You've—" He tried to get past Jasper.

"Farrell, enough!" someone shouted from behind him. "We came here to visit your father's grave, not to be a spectacle for others."

I looked around us. People visiting other graves were directing their attention to us. No wonder. Farrell was shouting at the top of his lungs. Who wouldn't hear his tantrum? Even if we weren't close to them.

"Hi, Otis," Eleanor greeted me kindly. "Forgive my son. Please take your time. We'll wait until you finish your visit."

I smiled. "Thank you. I'm done."

"Don't ever come here again," Farrell threatened, reminding me of something important.

"Oh. I haven't had a chance to say this." I smiled at my nephew. "Congratulations on your coronation as CEO of Haworth Incorporation. You've made your mom and dad proud by becoming your grandfather's main heir."

He scoffed. "You must be angry that all your efforts to get all this failed. Aren't you? Do you think I don't know you went to Grandpa yesterday to slander me?"

"What do you mean, Farrell?" asked Eleanor worriedly. She turned to me. "Otis, did you go to Dad's house yesterday?"

I smiled at my nephew. "You know I'm not slandering you. You've better start learning to manage the company properly. I won't stand still if Haworth Incorporation goes bankrupt. That company is my father's heart."

"What does a small company owner like you know about leading a big one?" he taunted.

"I'll take my leave," I said to Eleanor.

"Hey, I haven't done talking!" protested Farrell. "Hey, dwarf! Come back!"

I didn't break stride but kept walking to my car. It was impossible to reason with someone as arrogant as him. To him, he was the best, while everyone else was beneath him. I didn't know what Father saw that made him believe in that careless young man.

I didn't expect to inherit from him. I had my own company and lots of money. But as a Haworth, I couldn't accept my family's pride being destroyed by an incompetent person like Farrell.

"Do I need to investigate Farrell's allegations, sir?" asked Jasper as we neared the apartment building.

"No need. You won't find anything. My father has erased all evidence of the accident." I closed my eyes as the painful past replayed in my head.

"I can try to investigate," he suggested.

I opened my eyes and looked at the rear-view mirror. Jasper glanced at me before looking back at the road before him. He managed to do a lot of investigations for me. I got answers that I initially thought were impossible.

"Okay. Do it carefully. I don't want my family to know, especially Father."

Arnold's death was no mystery to me. He died in an accident while driving his car. Father's confidants had deeply investigated, and it was purely an accident. Therefore, Father erased all the evidence to prevent the media from using it.

Unfortunately, the media reported the accident without CCTV evidence and photos. Because of that, Mother was grieving even more, and Father was having trouble moving on. My father should never know that my right hand was reinvestigating the accident. I had to discover why Farrell hated me.

I stayed in my apartment all day Sunday and busied myself with reports from all divisions. I set targets for the next month to improve employee performance. Of course, I also prepared a reward for those who could achieve them.

In the morning, Jasper took me to a place. He didn't want to mention the surprise he had prepared. But seeing the place's name, I understood who we were waiting for.

"They're evil people," Jasper said when Farrell and Bella came out of court. The two didn't hesitate to embrace from the door to the car.

I looked around. No reporters were in sight. They were lucky that no one saw their intimacy. If there were gossip, not only Farrell but also the family name and the company's reputation would be tarnished by the public.

"Camari will get away from him soon. They have done all that to get her to sign the divorce papers. After today, they won't interfere with her life," I stated.

"Bella sent people to harass Miss Gastrell on the street, and Farrell gave her father a heart attack. Did they have to go that far?" he protested.

"Stay out of it, Jasper. That's Farrell and Camari's business. If Farrell or Bella bother her again, only then can you act," I warned.

"I bet they won't stop interfering with her life. Three years of dating and three years of marriage, Bella won't be satisfied until she sees Miss Gastrell suffer."

"Father won’t remain silent." I glanced at my watch. "We'd better get to the office. Bruce will see my colleague after the meeting. I need to give him something to talk about."

Jasper drove the car out of the parking lot onto the highway. I arrived late on Monday because work started with a meeting. I had already given Bruce the topic to discuss on Friday afternoon. So, he knew what to do.

Arriving at the office, I quickly prepared the topic for Bruce. He came in a few minutes later and reported the discussion result at the meeting. I nodded in satisfaction and thanked him. All the divisions did their tasks well last week.

"You're welcome, sir," Bruce replied politely.

I handed him a folder. "These are the topics you need to discuss during the lunch meeting. I'll give you the topics for tonight's appointment. I don't know yet if I'll continue working with them."

He accepted the folder and checked the contents. "Yes, sir. I will study this file on the way. Is there anything else, sir?"

"No. You may leave." I smiled at him.

Bruce was more than an assistant. He was my shadow. Father forbade me to use the Haworth name when I opened my business. He didn't want his son to create a rival company with the same family name. Therefore, I borrowed someone else's name, my assistant's name.

My physical condition had made me the butt of people's jokes. I unwillingly had to use Bruce as my representative to appear in front of employees, colleagues, clients, and even reporters. Only he knew the legal owner of Precious Fund Corporation.

"Are you sure I don't need to follow him to see your colleagues this afternoon?" Jasper asked. He looked at the door suspiciously.

"He's been working for me for ten years. He won't betray me."

"You've been betrayed by a confidant before. No one can be trusted completely, sir," he argued.

"Including you?" I challenged.

"Especially me," he replied. "I'm not immune to money or the temptation of position. One day, I may turn on your enemies."

I smiled at his honesty. That's what I liked about him. "Don't worry. I learned from my first mistake."

"Alright." He stood up. "I'm going to buy lunch. I'll be right back."

I nodded and stared at the door for a while. Bruce wouldn't betray me. He had successfully proven his loyalty to me. Some people had tried to tempt him with money, but he still worked for me and didn't defect. Hopefully, it stayed that way.

Jasper wasn't wrong to ask me to be careful. I'd always trusted his intuition. He had a sixth sense that was rarely wrong. However, I had prepared for all the possibilities that would happen. I was ready to fight if anyone, including Jasper, dared to betray me.

I stood by the window and watched the scenery outside. The world was unfair to people who were not perfect. I never felt like attending any meetings, appointments, or celebration invitations due to people's judgmental eyes.

However, I couldn't hide forever. I had to find the courage to appear in public. It was the only way Father would recognize me as his son. I felt my body trembling. Damn it. How could I face the crowd if only thinking about it made me tremble?

"Mom, do you see me from up there?" I whispered in a shaky voice. "Can't you see I need you? Why did you leave me so soon? I have no one but you."